Let us all press

Good morning friends!  It is Monday and I'm here!  On my blog!  Writing a post!  Truthfully, I can't believe it myself.  I was starting to think I had parted ways with blogging.  But I'm here.  For now.  For this post, at least.

I'm here because I've reeeeeeally been wanting to tell you about a couple of fun things happening around here these days. So let's get started, shall we?

Back in January I made what I would consider one of the most impulsive purchases of my life.  I bought a letterpress.

{Yes.  For reals.  This belongs to me.}

I say the purchase was impulsive because it wasn't something I really talked about buying for more than a few months.  If you know me at all, you know that I discuss possible large purchases for a year at minimum.  Preferably longer.  So when I told some of my friends that I really wanted to buy a letterpress in October and then actually owned one in January?  Well, that is akin to grabbing Tic-Tacs at the checkout line for me.

{Nate and my dad transporting the press/completely freaking me out.}

Here's what made buying this press possible:  

An amazingly supportive husband.  When Nate figured out that I was serious about buying a press he was nothing but positive every step of the way.  He never told me I was crazy, even though I asked him multiple times.  He helped me with research and made suggestions.  When we got the press he transformed our shed into an actual workshop complete with electricity, insulation, a heater, and a fan.  He repeatedly told me that he just wanted to do what he could to support my dream.  Amazing, yes.  Thank you, Nate.

A supportive and flexible family.  To buy this press we crashed Nate's family's after-Christmas-vacation.  Okay, that's not true, they totally wanted us to come.  But what we did do was make them drive a couple hours out of their way to come and inspect the press with us.  My dad let me keep the press in his shop for a few weeks, built me a treadle, and helped Nate haul it from our driveway to our shed (presses are really, really, ridiculously heavy).  I was in constant awe every step of the way as my family helped in any way they could.  Although, I shouldn't have been surprised.  That's just the way they are.  Thank you, family.

Online friends and acquaintances who replied to my incessant, long winded, and possibly frenetic emails.  I'm talking especially of Marta and Amanda.  Thank you both for your reassurance, advice,and well wishes.

I feel like there is a million things to tell you about and I don't even know where to start.  How about you tell me what you'd like to know?  Are you wondering, why a letterpress?  What are my plans from here?  Feel free to ask away my friends.  I'll happily answer any of your questions.  In fact, chances are good that I won't be shutting up about this press any time soon.  Plus I have a billion more iPod pictures to post.  No, seriously there's a lot.  And maybe I could even take some pictures with my real camera?  Possibly?

I'm curious.  Have you made any impulsive large purchases lately?  Also, do you need anything pressed?